Palestinians fired four rockets from Gaza into the South on Thursday
night, interrupting hours of relative calm. One rocket was fired into
the Ashkelon Coast Council area, and one into the Eshkol Regional
Council area. Both projectiles fell in open areas. The Iron Dome
rocket defense system intercepted one Grad rocket that was fired from
Gaza toward the Ashdod area, and another fell in an open area. No
injuries or damages were reported.

Palestinian sources reported shortly after, that IAF helicopters
fired at an area in the northwestern Gaza Strip, and that Navy
warships fired missiles at the coast of Gaza. No casualties were
reported and there was no confirmation of an attack by the IDF.

On Thursday morning, two rockets were launched from Gaza into
southern Israel, casting further doubt on reports that a ´ceasefire´
was being observed by jihadi Gazan organizations.

In the morning, a Grad rocket fired from Gaza exploded close to a
school outside Ofakim in the Sdot Negev Regional Council.

The rocket failed to cause injuries, but sparked panic among parents,
who quickly arrived to remove their children from the school. The
school had been open after the city of Netivot decided to follow Home
Front Command instructions and allow schools in the town to remain
open.

A few hours later, Palestinians sent a Grad rocket hurtling towards
Beersheba. The rocket was successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome
system.

Following the attacks, the mayors of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Be´ersheba and
Gan Yavne declared that schools would be shut in their cities.

The move was a show of no confidence in Home Front Command
assessments that a "calm" had taken hold.

Ofakim mayor Tzvik Grienfield criticized the inconsistent manner in
which some areas of the South shut schools while other areas kept
schools open.

Referring to mayors that shut schools, Grienfield said that
they "contradicted Home Front Command instructions and caused
confusion in other cities. The Home Front Command must put a stop to
this intolerable situation."